A hearing to determine the eligibilty of No. 1 overall high school football recruit Rashan Gary has been scheduled for next Thursday at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association headquarters in Robbinsville.

Gary’s hearing will be held before the NJSIAA’s Eligibility Appeals Committee, according to NJSIAA attorney Steve Goodell. A decision on Gary’s eligibility — and whether or not he will face any punishment — will be determined at the end of the hearing.

Gary has been ensnared in controversy since Scotch Plains-Fanwood — his former high school — alleged he was recruited by football powerhouse Paramus Catholic. The allegations include charges that Paramus Catholic parents and star athlete Jabrill Peppers called Gary or his mother repeatedly to entice him to transfer, and that a man in Paramus Catholic gear approached Gary at a dual track meet.

Paramus Catholic — the two-time defending Non-Public, Group 4 state champion — opens the season Sept. 6 against Gilman (Md.) at Towson University. Gary's hearing was slated before the game, meaning he will know whether or not he's eligible to participate.

“We wanted to schedule this as quickly as we could,” Goodell said. “The committee will make a determination.”

Goodell said depending on what happens during the hearing, a second one could be scheduled for the Paramus Catholic football team in front of the Controversies Committee, which could result in punishment for the program.

Gary, at 6-4 ½, 290 pounds, is the No. 1 overall prospect in the nation according to Scout.com. He has more than 30 major college scholarship offers from schools such as Florida State, Alabama, Ohio State and Rutgers.

Paramus Catholic president James Vail said he’s glad a hearing will take place before the first game of the season.

“I appreciate (the NJSIAA's) sensitivity in making themselves available to resolve this matter in a way that leaves open the possibility that the young man won’t experience any further damages,” Vail said.

Coney added: “I look forward to telling my story on Thursday.”

The Eligibility Appeals Committee is made up of 14 administrators from across the state, NJSIAA assistant director Larry White said. Typically, at the end of a hearing, a majority vote determines the outcome. Then, if the committee rules an athlete was recruited or transferred for athletic advantage, punishment is decided by the group.

As for the initial recruiting allegations, Scotch Plains principal David Heisey said his school was following NJSIAA protocol.

"I don’t look at it as a strong case or not," he said. "It’s just fulfilling our obligation as a member of the NJSIAA to report something that we feel could be an irregularity."